MEA Objects To Singapore PM's 'Nehru's India' Remark, Summons High Commissioner

The High Commissioner of Singapore to India, Simon Wong, was called by the MEA over the remarks by the country's Prime Minister during a parliamentary debate, ANI reported.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (left) and India's first PM Jawaharlal Nehru | Photo: AFP/Getty

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday summoned High Commissioner of Singapore to India, Simon Wong, taking exception to the remarks by the country’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong referring to criminal charges on the Indian lawmakers.

The High Commissioner of Singapore to India, Simon Wong, was called by the MEA over the remarks by the country's Prime Minister during a parliamentary debate, ANI reported.

The people familiar with the development said that this issue was raised with the Singaporean High Commissioner.

“The remarks by the Prime Minister of Singapore were uncalled for. We are taking up the matter with the Singaporean side,” said one of the people cited above, PTI reported.

The Singapore Prime Minister had earlier on Tuesday invoked India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru while arguing how democracy should work in the city-state during a debate in Parliament.

“Most countries are founded and start off on the basis of high ideals and noble values. But more often than not, beyond the founding leaders and the pioneer generation, over decades and generations, gradually things change,” Lee said during the debate, PTI reported.

"Things start off with passionate intensity. The leaders, who fought for and won independence, are often exceptional individuals of great courage, immense culture, and outstanding ability. They came through the crucible of fire and emerged as leaders of men and nations. They are the David Ben-Gurions, the Jawaharlal Nehrus, and we have our own too,” he added.

The Singapore Prime Minister said: “Many political systems today would be quite unrecognisable to their founding leaders. Ben-Gurion's Israel has morphed into one which can barely form a government, despite four general elections in two years. Meanwhile, a stream of senior politicians and officials in Israel face a litany of criminal charges, some have gone to jail.”

“While Nehru's India has become one where, according to media reports, almost half the MPs in the Lok Sabha have criminal charges pending against them, including charges of rape and murder. Though it is also said that many of these allegations are politically motivated,” he added.